Born in Leicester, Leicestershire, England. After obtaining a First Class degree at Wimbledon School of Art, he worked for BBC Television, initially as a set designer and worked on the British TV series "Dr. Who" from 1973 until 1976. He became a stage manager of the Russian Ice Circus, touring Spain in 1977-78. In 1979 he moved into the film industry, and has since won three Oscars® for designs for the films THE LAST EMPEROR (1987), DANGEROUS LIAISONS (1988) and RESTORATION (1995). Other notable (non-nominated) design credits include TIME BANDITS (1981), MONTY PYTHON'S THE MEANING OF LIFE (1983), BRAZIL (1985), HIGHLANDER (1986), THE SHELTERING SKY (1990), WUTHERING HEIGHTS (1992), LITTLE BUDDHA (1993), MARY SHELLEY'S FRANKENSTEIN (1994), THE MAN IN THE IRON MASK (1998), THE LITTLE VAMPIRE (2000), SPIDER-MAN (2002), DAREDEVIL (2003), SPIDER-MAN 2 (2004), SPIDER-MAN 3 (2007), and LAUNDRY WARRIOR (scheduled for 2008).  Best Achievement in Costume Design 1987: THE LAST EMPEROR  Best Achievement in Costume Design 1988: DANGEROUS LIAISONS  Best Achievement in Costume Design 1995: RESTORATION 3 nominations, 3 Awards